How to Collect Korean Pop Music

Across seven weeks, Niko Batallones and Shalla Yu dig through the initially complicated, sometimes messy and ultimately interesting world of K-pop.

Week 1: The Introductory CourseWe kick off the series with a backgrounder on K-pop’s history and intricate ecosystem. Who are the major labels? What do all those stages mean? And what’s the difference between the maknae and the visual?

Week 2: The Essentials CourseShalla Yu picks the five K-pop acts that should be on your collection, no matter what – from the derpy charms of Super Junior, to the hard-hitting nature of Big Bang, to the innocent appeal of IU.

Week 3: The Boy Group Course
K-pop isn’t just about cute guys who can bust a move: we look at the genre-crossing (and, well, good-looking, obviously) nature of the Korean boy group. Plus, we look at K-pop idols with foreign connections.

Week 4: The Girl Group Course
We trace the evolution of the Korean girl group, from the innocent R&B flavors of the 90s to the outrageously explicit choreography of today. Plus, we dig through K-pop’s sub-units, solo spin-offs and project collaborations.

Week 5: The Solos and Duos Course
You don’t have to be part of a big group to see success in K-pop: we look at solo and duo acts that have seen success in Korea and elsewhere. Plus, a step-by-step guide on how to watch (and obsess over) your favorite K-pop act.

Week 6: The OST Course
K-pop and Korean dramas have always played together well: theme songs become chart hits, and idols become successful actors in their own right. Plus, a potted overview of the Korean drama industry.

Week 7: The Obscurities Course
We look at the obscure side of Korean pop, from the indie acts with a penchant for twee, to the alternative acts proving Koreans can go really heavy, too. Plus, Niko Batallones on what Filipinos can learn from K-pop’s success.

Additional Resources

What K-pop’s ubiquity says about Korean sensibilities
An outsider would look at K-pop and think of it as a novelty, but go to Seoul and you’ll hear the soundtrack to daily life, one that’s wrapped around anything and everything tightly. Niko Batallones reports from Seoul on what K-pop’s pervasiveness says about Koreans.

마마무 is 뭔들: one month in the life of a new MooMoo
Niko Batallones has long liked Mamamoo, but only in the month after the release of their debut full-length Melting has he gone deep. He writes about just what being a fan entails – and why he chose Mamamoo over everybody else.